Torture and/or inhuman and degrading punishment for Theo Heyliger

SINT MAARTEN (GREAT BAY) – On October 9th 2018 the third section of the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) condemned the circumstances under which a well-known citizen of Sint Maarten was detained in the police cells in Philipsburg as a violation of article 3 of The European Treaty for Human Rights, law firm Sulvaran & Partners Eldon ‘Peppie’ Sulvaran said in a press statement on Thursday.

“This article protects all citizens against torture and inhuman and degrading punishment. Theo Heyliger from the 19th of February 2019 up till today is being held under inhuman and unacceptable circumstances.

“The ECHR condemned the Kingdom of the Netherland for the detention of people in these filthy police cells of Sint Maarten. Theo Heyliger is being detained in even worse circumstances. The walls of his cell are plastered all over with human waste, with even words written with human poop. Thick stripes of human shit, to use the right word, are clearly visible on the walls.

“This is also the case with hardened toilet paper containing the same human disposal, which was thrown against the wall by former occupants of the cell. As the bed is against the wall, this waste comes falling down his bed. The douche cell is very filthy; moss has turned into a dirty black mass on the floor of the cell. Insects and rats swarm the cell like they own it.

“The first ones responsible for this inhuman treatment are the magistrates mainly flown in from Holland, who keep ordering and approving the detention of suspects in these cells, instead of watching over basic human rights. For decades they refuse to comply with their legal obligation. It is completely impossible that for example in Holland, Mark Rutte or any other human being could be detained in a cell like this.

“When the Kingdom was sentenced last year in the above mentioned case, the finger was unjustly and immediately only pointed at Sint Maarten. There was not one Sint Maartener involved in the violation of article 3. Just as there is no Sint Maartener now involved in the prosecution of Theo. It is these guest magistrates, who order the detention and for years refuse to intervene and protect basic human rights of the people, even though different international organizations for decades have called the situation in these cells ‘’totally unacceptable’’.

“These imported magistrates on the island, still consciously play blind and deaf. Magistrates are the first ones called upon to uphold fundamental human rights. Not in Sint Maarten. We have one Kingdom and article 3 of the Treaty of Rome has equal validity in all the parts of the Kingdom. Don’t get us wrong, this has nothing to do with the fact that Theo is being investigated and prosecuted by authorities.

“It is about much more than that. It has to do with safeguards against abuse of power – by people who should know better – which is a fundamental human right. No human being should be locked up under these filthy circumstances. That we use the case of Theo to bring this forward is partly true. It is also true that we have been fighting this unacceptable mentality and misuse of power during our whole career.

“We won’t deny that somebody like Theo will get more attention and creates the ideal situation to bring this barbarism committed by people who have to be an example to others, to the attention of the general public. This abuse by these magistrates has to be stopped, because to many people have suffered, all because of their lack of assuming responsibility.

“Pointing the finger only at the Minister of Justice or country Sint Maarten is a cheap excuse and does in no way whatsoever, relieve these magistrates of their duty to protect human rights of all the people of Sint Maarten, including Theo. The ones who are not willing to protect basic human rights don’t deserve to work on our islands and should look for another job or take the flight back. It’s as simple as that.”

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